Hi! Jinja here again,
and I’m glad to say that I’m in a better frame of mind than I was at the
beginning of my first story. I still
haven’t been able to work out how Rosie was brought back to me. But I won’t question why or how; it’s not
good to question things like that.
Ellen’s still angry with me for loving Rosie! Now that’s one thing I can’t work out, why
should one horse hate another because they love a person that he or she
disapproves of. I think Ellen was being
possessive, have I got the right word?
Well, she was doing something wrong anyway. Ellen was kicking her door
as I dictated this. She was swearing at
the top of her voice saying something like:
“I’ll smash
you into the Earth Jinja!” I ignore her
until she erupts from her box in a blazing fury! ERR, hang on, um, oh dear, err, better
run! Ellen’s coming after me!
JINJA POUNDS ACROSS THE YARD, JUMPS A FENCE AND ENDS
UP IN A FIELD.
“Phew out run
her!” Collapsing on the grass I
contemplate my position.
“Ellen’s furious
with me for even thinking of Rosie. Why
is this? Is there something I am doing
wrong, or is Ellen being stupid? And
what if we get into a fight over this?
I’ll lose, bound to, Ellen’s bigger and stronger than me!” These thoughts did nothing to cheer the
situation. I sprang to my feet and
walked off across the field towards the yard.
I must have been walking with my eyes closed because I failed to see the
danger I was walking into. Ellen was
standing on the other side of the fence as I approached the gate. As I passed she grabbed my right ear in her
teeth and bit down hard! I yelled with
pain and attempted to beat her off.
“Stupid
move Jinja!” I thought. But my body was telling me to fight her! The pain was so intense that I kept on struggling
despite the ripping sensation from my ear.
When Ellen let me go I flopped onto the grass and lay panting for
breath.
“You will
never know how much I hate you Jinja!!”
she screamed. I felt like
retaliating with:
“And you’ll
never know how much I love Rosie!” but I
thought better of it. My ear hurt like
hell! I looked up into Ellen’s face
trying to plead with her to understand why I felt the way I did.
“Can’t you
see why I love Rosie?” I asked. Ellen shook her head.
“No, I
can’t see why. Rosie’s dead anyway, and
there’s no point in loving a horse that’s dead Jinja.” I was so upset by her words that I leapt at
her, bad move! Ellen whipped round and
kicked me! At first I had no idea what
had hit me! All I knew was that
one-minute I was standing and the next I was falling! I hit the ground on my shoulder. I thought,
“What‘s
going on!” I rolled over and over in the
grass with the momentum of my fall. I
lay on the grass recovering from my tumble.
I heard Ellen jump the fence and come towards me. She placed one huge fore foot on my ribs
making it impossible for me to rise. She
pressed my chest until I was nearly suffocated!
“Ellen! Ellen! Don’t crush me!” I pleaded.
Ellen’s reply was so colourful that it would shock you if I printed
it! I think the gist of it was that I
had no right to love Rosie because I was a different breed to her! Basically Ellen was being racist in the extreme. I had thought until then, that no horse could
talk to another in that manner. But
Ellen was blowing those theories out of the water one by one. Ellen rocked back and forth on my chest until
I was almost dead! Mercifully I knew
none of this because I had passed out.
The next thing I knew was a nose brushing mine. Dimly I wondered who could be rubbing my
nose:
“ Rosie maybe?
Perhaps I’m dead and have joined Rosie.”
I thought. Then I knew suddenly
that I wasn’t in heaven, no, hell more like and Ellen was going to put the hoof
in! I began to sob as I thought of the
pain I had already gone through. I
pleaded aloud with her,
“Ellen,
please don’t hurt me!” this sounded
foalish I can tell you. A voice I didn’t
recognise said:
“Hey Jinja,
it’s all right.” I noticed the lack of
familiarity in the horse’s tone.
“Not Rosie, clover or Ruby.” I
concluded.
“What? Who?” I croaked.
The mystery horse laughed,
“My
name’s Beyancca.” She said.
“Beyancca? Beyancca?” I puzzled over Beyancca’s status and where
she lived for a few minutes before she put me out of my pain.
“I live in
“Fleur’s street” as it’s called.”
Beyancca said. I made an effort
to rise but Beyancca pushed me back gently.
“Don’t
move Jinja. You’re bruised and
battered,” she said.
“Thanks for
the good news.” I thought. Beyancca noticed my hesitation and remarked
gently:
“Sorry, but
that was need to know.” I laughed and
wished I hadn’t.
“I know
Beyancca, I know.” I replied. Beyancca smiled suddenly.
“Looks
like I got here just in time.” She said.
“What?” I asked.
“Ellen was
beating the, well, you know what, out of you Jinja.” Beyancca replied. I asked:
“Where’s
Rosie?” Beyancca’s expression told me
that my question had hit her hard.
“Oh, I, I
remember now.” I said. Beyancca wept as she remembered Rosie.
“I miss
her more than I can tell you Jinja.” She
sobbed. I struggled to my feet and
hugged her. I said gently
“I know
Rosie wouldn’t want you to cry Beyancca.”
“I know Jinja,
but it’s not easy. You know that more
than anybody.” Beyancca replied. There was a rustling sound behind Beyancca’s
right shoulder. She didn’t see who’d
arrived, but I did. Rosie stood quietly
watching us. She had a huge grin on her
face. Rosie thumped Beyancca’s shoulder
with her nose. Beyancca jumped a mile
and whipped round! She stared at Rosie
in astonishment!
“Rosie?” she asked.
“Yes
Beyancca, I think I am anyway.” Rosie
replied. Beyancca opened her mouth to
question Rosie. Rosie hushed her with
one glance.
“Don’t
question me Beyancca. Please leave it
for now.” She said quietly. I rubbed both Rosie’s and Beyancca’s noses
with mine. Rosie laughed,
“You’re so
open with your emotions Jinja.” She
said. I laughed along with her and
hugged her tightly.
“That shows
more than words ever could express.”
Beyancca thought. She shook
herself from nose to tail.
“So what’re
we gonn’a do about Ellen?” Beyancca
asked. Rosie turned away and spat on the
ground in disgust.
“I know
I’m supposed to be related to her, but, I can’t abide that horse!” she yelled.
Ellen heard Rosie’s shouts and came running over in a thunderous fury!
“Well
Rosie, Jessie or whoever you are. I hate
you, Jinja and any other horse that is associated with you!” she yelled.
I think I would have reacted like that if I had been told that I was
mud. But Ellen had nearly killed me,
perhaps that was why Rosie had said what she had. Ellen was furious anyway. She took out her frustration on poor Beyancca
who had nothing to do with the causes of her anger! I yelled at her to,
“Stop! Beyancca’s nothing to do
with me or Rosie, hit us if you have to hit anyone. Just leave Beyancca out of this!” I pleaded.
By this time however Beyancca was getting the worst of it. She lay on the ground panting for breath and
feeling more frightened than she had ever before.
“You
should have kept your long nose out of our business Beyancca!” Ellen screamed. Beyancca pleaded with the large Irish Draft
mare for mercy.
“PLEASE,
Ellen, let me go! I’m only young, I’m
not ready to die yet!” she
whimpered. Ellen was merciless
however! Ellen performed the same move
on Beyancca that she had on me. She
pinned Beyancca down on the grass. Ellen
squeezed the air out of Beyancca’s body.
As she pressed her attack home Beyancca tried to scream for help. The attack took place faster than you could
read this description.
Rosie saved Beyancca’s life. Rosie blew in like a Tornado! She beat her distant relation off of Beyancca
with ruthless force. Ellen was flattened
under Rosie’s onslaught! Rosie would
have killed Ellen if the Manageress had not appeared just in time to avert
disaster! I wondered what made the Manageress’s instinct for trouble so
acute, perhaps she knew horses better than horses themselves did. Wherever there was a major disturbance the
Manageress could be found sorting it out either with diplomacy or if that
fails, well the word is more like “lungeing whip.” You must understand that the whip was only
used in life and death situations like the one we had then.
The Manageress waded into the fight and the whip fell
with rapidity. Ellen and Rosie were
separated, Ellen was taught a stern lesson with the whip while the Manageress
screamed at Rosie!
“What the
hell do you think you were doing!” she
asked. Rosie turned towards Beyancca and
explained about the beginnings of the fight.
Ellen ran off and made herself scarce.
The Manageress hugged Beyancca and stroked her ears. Beyancca couldn’t resist the chance to take
advantage of the situation. She leaned
her head on the Manageress’s shoulder and closed her eyes. Beyancca rubbed her nose against the
Manageress’s shoulder until she got what she wanted. All Beyancca really wanted was a lot of fuss
to be made of her! After the bashing she
received from Ellen, Beyancca wanted a little of the human touch. All horses love being stroked, no matter what
they may say to the contrary.
Beyancca relaxed, resting her considerable weight on
the Manageress’s shoulder. The
Manageress is an excellent stable owner, the yard’s reputation for fine horses
and well-trained riders was known throughout Suffolk. But there was one thing that no human, not
even the Manageress could do. The
Manageress could not cradle one and a half tonnes of horse on one
shoulder. Because of this Beyancca had
to stand on her own four feet rather than rest her full weight on the
Manageress’s shoulder. The Manageress
straightened slowly and stared Beyancca in the eye.
“Taking
it a little too far don’t you think Beyancca?”
she asked. Beyancca knew when she
was being told off, and now was such a time.
“Yes, I
suppose I was, sorry.” She replied. The Manageress strode away, her lungeing whip
following her. I thought for one mad
minute:
“I wonder
if the whip has it’s own personality, it seems to.” No!
Hang on Jinja! You’ve finally
lost it mate! Oh dear, the psychologist
beckons! Err, I didn’t say that. Oh no! the typist has already written it
down. If the Manageress sees this she’ll
think I’ve flipped! I haven’t flipped,
promise!
What have I said, or thought in the last few
hours? Has the typist written it all
down? Why do we horses always tell these
humans what we’re thinking? Second
thoughts, although I don’t know why I’m telling you this, the bloody typist
will only write it down. Well, don’t
answer that last question, okay!
Phew! That madness is over and
done with. Can we get on with the story
now? Yes? Good.
Beyancca, Rosie and I watched the Manageress and her
whip depart towards her house. Rosie
turned towards Beyancca and smiled at her.
Beyancca looked long and hard at her leader.
“Are you
still leader of the herd Rosie?” she
asked. Rosie looked away.
“If you want me to be Beyancca.” She said faintly. Beyancca fought back tears.
“I don’t
know why I feel sad.” She said. I hugged her,
“Come on
Beyancca dear. Don’t cry dear.” I said.
Rosie rubbed her nose against Beyancca’s.
“Look Beyancca,
I know you’re chewed up about what happened to my old body but it’s no matter
now. I’m all right now, couldn’t be
better in fact.” Rosie reassured her. I walked over to the gate, opened it and
walked out into the yard. Rosie and
Beyancca followed me. We walked up the
yard towards Rosie’s old box. As I have
already said, a Chestnut horse named Crofter now occupies Rosie’s box. I have heard that he’s a bad tempered horse
who never seems to cheer up. I think
I’ll keep out of his way. We reached
Crofter’s box and looked in. Crofter was
eating straw and taking no interest in what was going on around him. Beyancca commented on Crofter’s lack of
enthusiasm. Crofter lost his already
badly worn temper! He screamed at her!
“Shut your
mouth! Shut up! Don’t say another word! If you do I’ll break your neck!” he shook his hoof at her. We withdrew a safe distance from any flying
hooves. Crofter kicked his door with
fervour. We turned away and left Crofter
to his stupid games. Fleur caught sight
of us and almost passed out when she recognised Rosie!
“Rosie, am
I seeing things? If I am then I’ll have
to get help for my problems.” Rosie
laughed,
“No, I
don’t think you’re seeing things.”
Another horse took an increasing interest in us. I hadn’t met this one before. He is a French racehorse; his nameplate said
“Digby.” The horse called Digby pulled
at his strawnet with enthusiasm. I was
standing beside his door talking with Fleur when I noticed that Digby was
rubbing his nose against my shoulder.
Misty looked sharply at Digby.
“Oi! Digby!
Stop rubbing your nose against Jinja’s shoulder!” she snapped.
Digby jumped a mile and withdrew into his box.
“Hey,
what! What’s the matter?” he asked.
Misty was furious with him.
“You don’t
ever rub yourself against another horse without permission!”
“I’m
sorry Jinja.” Digby said
contritely. I believed him. Misty stamped her foot in warning to the
French racehorse. I felt Misty was being
very harsh. I know that Digby was only
being friendly. I rubbed Digby’s nose
with mine.
“Don’t
worry about Misty.” I reassured
him. Digby smiled at me.
“Yes, I
know.” He said. Candy poked her head out of her box and made
eye contact with Digby.
“Just be
yourself Digby.” She said. Misty lost her temper with Candy!
“Why are
you all ganging up on me?” she asked.
“I
thought Domino was the unreasonable one.
Now I see that you’re of the same mind!”
Beyancca said. Misty screamed at
her! Beyancca laid her ears back and
snapped back at Misty! Digby laid his
ears back, in fact the whole street fell into discontent within three
minutes. The Manageress came round the
corner into the street. What a time to
arrive, just as the anger was mounting.
She came round to each of us soothing the tension from the air. Misty plunged about her box in a most
uncharacteristic fury! The Manageress
tied Misty to the box wall with a rope attached to a head collar and tried to
soothe her worn temper. Beyancca lay down
on her straw bed and closed her eyes.
“I’m going
to sleep for a bit.” She said. I heard the straw rustle as she settled
down. Beyancca sighed as she slipped
away. I looked at Rosie and signalled to
her that I wanted to leave the street with her.
We left as quietly as we could and retired to a nearby field to get away
from the rest of the horses.
“Jinja, why
was Beyancca rubbing her nose against yours as I arrived?” I told her about my fight with Ellen.
“So Ellen
feels that you shouldn’t have grieved for me?”
Rosie asked.
“Yes I’m
afraid she does seem to feel that way Rosie my love.” Rosie raised her head and whinnied at the top
of her voice!
“We’re
in a loving relationship, in fact we’re married! I’m going to teach Ellen a lesson she’ll
never forget!” I tried to calm my wife
down.
“Rosie
darling, please calm down my dear.” I
said gently. Rosie said quickly,
“Ellen
nearly killed you, and, what happened to me cannot happen again, and, how did
it happen? I mean what started the
fight?” I told her about Ellen’s
comments.
“I hate
Ellen more than I can tell you!” Rosie
screamed. I nuzzled her shoulder trying
to calm her nerves.
“That new
race horse is a funny chap isn’t he.”
Rosie remarked.
“Who? Digby?
No, he’s no different to the rest of us.
A bit overfriendly perhaps.” I
replied. I looked up as the sound of
horseshoes on concrete reached my ears.
I saw Beyancca coming round the end of the stable block towards us. She looked frustrated and strangely, well,
frightened I think. The look in her eyes
told me that all was not well.
“What’s
happened?” my spirits had hit the grass
the minute I set eyes on her. Beyancca
seemed incapable of speech. She just
stared at us, utter fear and terror in her face! Rosie was becoming frightened herself. She asked forcefully.
“What’s
going on Beyancca? If you don’t tell us
we can’t help!” This tone was not what
Poor Beyancca needed. She buried her
head in my shoulder, her whole body shaking violently! Suddenly Beyancca’s legs collapsed beneath
her and she fell onto the grass. To my
eye it looked as if Beyancca had suffered a massive shock to her system. The problem was that now she was out cold on
the grass I couldn’t go on anything more than guesswork as to what happened to
make her react in this manner. I had a
sudden urge to see what was going on!
“Stay
with Beyancca Rosie. I’m going to take a
look at the situation.” To my surprise
Rosie shook her head.
“No, no
deal. You wait here, I’ll go.” Rosie replied. Rosie left Beyancca and I alone in the
field. Beyancca lay on the grass
shivering violently. I nuzzled her
shoulder trying to provoke a reaction.
Beyancca raised her head and wailed with fear and terror!
“Ellen,
she, she, she attacked us, all of us!
All of us, dead.” She
sobbed. Rosie came tearing back then!
“Jinja,
it’s worse than I’ve ever seen!” she
said quickly.
“Rosie,
please calm down, what’s happened? Beyancca
was telling me something about all the horses in Fleur’s street being
dead!” I asked. Rosie shook her head and collapsed against
me.
“Yes,
well, Beyancca’s sort of right. What’s
happened is that Ellen went on the rampage kicking and beating the living
daylights out of all the horses she could reach. Fleur, Brydy, Digby, even Misty! She kicked them all until they complied with
her demands.”
“What were
they?” I asked.
“That they
disown us Jinja. Ellen does not like the
way the horses in the yard grieved for me!
Now Ellen has endangered many other horses lives. I will be sad forever if any horse comes to
permanent harm because of her actions.”
Rosie hugged Beyancca and helped her to her feet. We trailed towards the yard and walked into
Fleur’s street. The Manageress and a
team of vets were attending to the injured horses.
All the box doors were open, they showed all the
damage in graphic detail. Digby caught
my eye.
“She
flattened us Jinja!” he sobbed.
“How badly
are you injured?” I asked. Digby moved and screwed up his face in agony!
“Bruising,
and, who knows what else!” he said. I
walked among the panic-stricken horses trying to gauge the extent of the damage
myself. I stared at the box doors, or what
was left of them. Ellen had destroyed
them to reach the horses inside. I
looked down at Misty lying on the straw.
The vet had doped her to the eyeballs.
“Misty? Can you hear me?” I asked.
Misty opened her eyes and focused on my face. She tried to speak, to tell me what had
happened.
“Ellen,
she, she hit us Jinj’! Didn’t like
grief, said no grief should be shown for Rosie, none at all. Then she, Ellen came to each of us, she said
she would kill us all, then we would have what we ultimately wanted. She started kicking stable doors and then
kicking the horses Jinja!” Tears rolled
down Misty’s nose as she remembered the pain she had been put through. I nuzzled Misty’s shoulder and told her that
all would be fine.
The Manageress had thrown Ellen into a box and double
bolted the door. Ellen thumped and
battered the door with all her force but the door held fast, thank
goodness! I dread to think what the
consequences would have been if Ellen had managed to escape.
That night I couldn’t sleep, neither could Rosie or
Beyancca, we were all thinking of the horses that had been injured by Ellen’s
five minutes of madness. Ruby, Clover
and all the horses that lived in that street were shut in and their doors were
bolted top and bottom. This was much to
Crofter’s annoyance.
“Why has
the Manageress done this? What’s the
point?” he complained.
“Do you
want to end up dead?” Ruby asked.
“No, not
really.” Crofter replied.
“I
wouldn’t be surprised if the Manageress gets rid of Ellen after what she’s
done, now go to sleep.” Ruby said. Crofter did try to sleep. But he couldn’t. Crofter was unnerved by Ellen’s actions. He was haunted by visions of Ellen smashing
the life out of other horses. He would
close his eyes and settle down for a few minutes, but then the nightmare would
come back and he would spring to his feet screaming and yelling. Ruby became tired of Crofter’s raving.
“Crofter! Shut up will you!” Crofter gabbled out his fears, this made ruby
angry!
“You’re a stupid horse Crofter! You’re acting like a foal over this! Ellen’s locked up, she’s not going to harm
you, can’t you see that?” she
shouted. Crofter wailed with fear!
“Shut up
Crofter! What’s the meaning of this
bloody racket!” Clover asked
crossly. Crofter raised his head and
whinnied:
“Ellen’s
going to destroy us all!” Ruby lost her
temper yet again and smashed her door in frustration. Crofter’s fear got the better of him and he
started screaming and yelling!
“Why is
there so much madness in the world? Why
can’t we just live our lives in peace?
Why did the Manageress buy Ellen in the first place? Now Ellen’s beating the life out of the
yard! She’s got to stop this!” Ruby kicked at Crofter’s door until it gave way! She stood Full Square in front of Crofter
threatening him! You see, Ruby had gone
beyond fury and was now capable of anything.
Clover’s anger was just skin deep and had nothing like the same hold on
her. Clover came to Crofter’s rescue
much as she had to mine. She told Ruby
to leave Crofter alone in no uncertain terms.
For some reason Ruby respected her.
Clover’s not violent, I don’t even think she knows the meaning of the
word. While on the other hand, Ruby has a temper that she sometimes has trouble
controlling. This could and sometimes
has led to acts of violence on her part.
Clover launched a flying kick at the top door on her box and broke the
lock. The door crashed back against the
wall and Clover thrust her head out.
Unfortunately for Clover the Manageress came round the
corner at that moment. She watched in
amazement as the stable door flew open and Clover catapulted into the
opening! The Manageress also took note
of Ruby’s aggressive posture and of Crofter’s terrified expression. It sounds as if they were carved in stone
doesn’t it? Well, for a few seconds all
three horses stood absolutely still from shock at the Manageress’s sudden
appearance. The Manageress surveyed
Ruby’s non-existent door, Crofter’s Half-destroyed door and Clover’s busted
lock. The Manageress strode up to Ruby
and yelled at her!
“You
bloody fool! What did you think you were
playing at?” Ruby explained about
Crofter’s outpouring of fear. Crofter
wailed,
“Ruby
threatened me!” Ruby lost her temper for
the thousandth time this story and snapped at Crofter! Crofter screamed in terror and backed off,
retreating to the rear of his box. Ruby
then said something unprintable about Crofter that caused the Manageress to
lose her temper! She strode away and
disappeared into the riding school. She
reappeared with a lungeing whip! Clover
worked out that diplomacy had failed and hid her head. She didn’t want to watch the showdown between
Ruby and the Manageress.
The Manageress and Ruby faced each other across the
battle lines. Ruby snapped and shook her
fore hooves at the Manageress while the Manageress just stood with the
ever-faithful lungeing whip beside her.
“Now will
you back down Ruby?” the Manageress
asked. Ruby swore at the Manageress and
advanced! Bad move, bad move! The Manageress raised the whip and cracked it
down across,,, the wall. It’s the sound
of a whip horses cannot stand. When the
whip landed with a sharp “CRACK!” on the wall Clover squealed loudly!
It was this that brought Rosie, Beyancca and I from
the field where we had been grazing peacefully.
As we approached Clover was pleading with the Manageress to stop using
the whip to threaten Ruby!
“Look, there’s no need for this. Can’t you two talk about your
differences?” Clover asked. Ruby tried to kick the stuffing out of
Clover! The Manageress couldn’t do
anything to stop her! Ruby grabbed
Clover’s ear in her teeth and bit down on it!
Clover clenched her teeth, trying desperately not to cry out. I could see the pain in Clover’s eyes, it was
horrible to watch. Ruby twisted the ear
she held until Clover was screaming for mercy!
The Manageress was horrified by what she was seeing!
“Ruby you
big bitch let Clover go!” she
yelled. Ruby shook her head, Clover
nearly passed out, she hung on grimly to consciousness.
Beyancca had seen too much! I thought she would have broken down at the
sight of one horse attacking another. My
views were based on Beyancca’s reaction to Ellen’s rampage. But I was wrong! Beyancca suddenly threw herself at Ruby,
striking out with both fore feet! She
Caught Ruby across her fore legs, causing her to release her hold on Clover’s
ear. Ruby screamed at Beyancca as she
fell on top of her.
“What the
hell do you think you’re doing Beyancca?”
Beyancca set about giving Ruby a good thumping! Beyancca’s not usually predisposed to violent
acts, but now! Ruby was attacking a dear
friend and Beyancca wasn’t going to stand by and watch it happen! Beyancca made sure that Ruby wasn’t going to
retaliate before she levered herself off of her. Beyancca had taught ruby. Beyancca stood up and walked away from the
scene of the fight. Rosie made to follow
her but I stopped her.
“No Rosie,
don’t follow Beyancca. She needs time on
her own.” I said gently. As Beyancca turned the corner and disappeared
out of sight I saw she was shaking. I
concluded that fear and anger had driven Beyancca. Ruby’s a lot older and stronger than
Beyancca, and I think it was the Element of surprise that enabled Beyancca to
teach Ruby a thing or two. Otherwise
Beyancca wouldn’t have stood a chance against Ruby. Ruby made no protest as the Manageress
examined her. Beyancca may have been
terrified, but she had been careful as well.
The Manageress found only shattered pride under Ruby’s sweat soaked
coat.
“She
hasn’t broken anything dam it! I could
have dragged her through court if she had!”
Ruby whimpered. The Manageress
ignored her. Ruby struggled to her feet
and walked stiffly across to the driving yard.
Jingle saw her coming and looked away.
Fudge asked,
“What was
all that about?” Poor Fudge had no idea
of how explosive her innocent question was!
Ruby whirled round and kicked at her with both hind feet! Fudge jumped for her life and ended up with
her cheek pressed against the straw! She
had felt the wind of the passing hooves but nothing else, close don’t you
think? Carmen started whinnying loudly
for someone to:
“Get Ruby
out of here! She’s attempting to murder
Fudge!”
I sprinted to the driving yard at the sound of
Carmen’s shouts. I found Ruby on the
turn to attack Carmen! I ran head long
at the larger horse in a blind rage! I
felt a huge shock run through my body as we met! Ruby seemed to gasp as I crashed into
her. The next thing I knew was hitting
the concrete with considerable force and the feeling of another heavier horse
falling slap-bang on top of me! I yelled
in agony as my leg was twisted and broken under me!
The Manageress and John came running. They hauled Ruby
off of me. Ruby had been winded in the
attack. Then John had a look at me. The Pain from my leg disabled clear thinking.
“Jinja’s
broken his leg.” He said. The Manageress picked up her mobile phone. I
looked at the phone trying to think straight,
“That
thing’s as faithful as the lungeing whip.”
This rather foalish thought cheered me slightly. I told John about it.
“It’s not
like a dog Jinja.” He laughed. The Manageress injected some of the same
stuff she had used to treat Rosie when she was dying. This stuff had a curious affect on me. I seemed to be half-asleep. The Pain from my leg had gone, and so had the
strength to move. I lay there on the
concrete of the yard wondering what could happen next. I could see John and the Manageress. They were alternately stroking me and talking
to other stable lads. I DECIDED I LIKED
THIS STATE.
“There’s no
pain, and I feel so peaceful.” I
thought. I closed my eyes and drifted
off into sweet oblivion.
I woke in a strange place, but then again it wasn’t so
strange. It was the vet’s place
actually. I opened my eyes to see the
Manageress and John coming around the partition from the other room. They had both been crying, I could see
that. I shifted and wished I
hadn’t. My body ached from nose to tail
and the sudden movement caused the room to spin and turn upside down! I laid my head on the rubber matting to
recover.
“Ugh, this
is horrible. I haven’t felt this ill
since I last visited this place.” I thought. Eventually the room sorted itself out and the
Manageress and John were able to keep their feet on the ground and not
disappear into the roof every time I looked at them. . John came closer and knelt down beside me.
“Hey
Jinja, you all right mate?”
“Yeah,
fine thanks John.” I replied
dreamily. The drug the vet had given me
hadn’t quite worn off and I was still disconnected from reality from time to
time. The Manageress said:
“The vet
said you might not make it.” I reasoned
that this had been said because I am in my later life. I’m either in my twenties or thirties, I
can’t quite remember which. Anyway at
first I thought the Manageress was joking.
“What? Me? Die?
Who does the vet think he’s operated on?
No, I’m not dying yet. I’ve heard
some jokes, but that one takes the prize.”
I said. Then the Manageress lost
her temper with me!
“It
wasn’t a joke Jinja! The vet was serious
when he said that!” I suddenly felt very
unhappy. I asked myself:
“What did I say? What did I do to upset them?” John put me in the picture.
“You don’t
take anything seriously Jinj’. We just
want you to realise how close you were.”
“I’m sorry
John.” I said. The Manageress said,
“I’m glad
you’re bubbling over with life Jinja.
Just promise me something before we go any further, don’t ever attempt
anything like that again!” I was made to
promise faithfully that I wouldn’t go after Ruby ever again.
“But I was
only protecting Carmen.” I protested. John replied:
“Yes
Jinja, but you almost came to grief doing it.”
The Manageress added:
“Both you
and Beyancca are have a go heroes.”
I raised my head experimentally to see what would
happen. In the event nothing did. I tried to stand up and failed.
“Take it
slow Jinj’.” The vet said.
“All right,
you’re the doctor.” I thought. I gave it another five minutes to settle down
before finally standing on my own four feet.
“How are
Clover and Beyancca?” I asked.
“Clover’s
as well as can be expected. Her ear’s
been stitched if that’s what you mean.”
I was reminded that Poor Clover, for all the love for life she may have,
was dying. I shook myself hard and tried
not to think about it.
“What
about Beyancca?” I enquired. The two humans both smiled.
“Both
Beyancca and Rosie are eager to see you again Jinj’.” No sooner had the words been spoken then
there was a horrendous crash and a yell from the vet, that part I can’t print,
well, Rosie and Beyancca came surging into the recovery room like a couple of
angry tornadoes!
They snuffled around me exploring, searching, and
reassuring themselves that I was really there, alive and healthy. I let them satisfy their curiosity and ask
their questions.
“Are you
all right Jinj’? What happened in the
fight?” I answered those and many other questions before they would let me
go. As we walked out into the sunlight
The Manageress made a remark that had Rosie and Beyancca laughing so much they
could hardly stand.
“Well
Jinja, two mares after you, what a treat ay?”
Rosie turned towards Beyancca.
“Jinja’s
mine!” she said playfully. Beyancca
smiled:
“Draw
lots!” she replied. Both Rosie and Beyancca fell about laughing
once more.
We were loaded into the horsebox and driven back to
the yard. My leg was in a huge plaster
thing that stretched from my shoulder right down my leg to my fetlock. This was a funny arrangement. Because of this I had to walk round using the
straightened leg as little as possible.
I got round all right in the end.
Naturally I was careful to keep the leg out of any contact with possible
danger. Well, there was one possibility
I could have not foreseen. Digby, that
rather overfriendly French racehorse nearly put me back in the vet’s place the
first time we met after my accident.
I had walked, or should that be limped around from my
field to the main yard via the barn in which Digby lived. The moment he saw me Digby tore open his door
and ran out to greet me. He nearly
knocked me down! Digby said:
“Hey
Jinja! I’m so glad to see you back
here!” I could see this was
genuine. That part was not in the least
bit unpleasant. The next bit was
however. Digby has as I have already
mentioned a rather annoying habit of rubbing his nose against the shoulder of
anyone he meets. I know he’s only being
friendly, but one day I could see him getting himself into all kinds of
trouble. What happened then almost
tipped me over the edge. Digby rubbed
his nose, not against my right shoulder, no, not where it would have been far
better to rub, no, he rubbed his nose against my left. Yes, the one that was covered in a plaster
thing. The vibrations travelled down my
leg and aggravated the broken bits, I was not best pleased with Digby I can
tell you! I snarled with rage and
pain! My leg was only two days
mended! It hadn’t even had time to think
about mending, let alone have started the job!
I upper cutted Digby sharply in his neck with my nose! I hadn’t meant to hurt him, no, that was the
furthest thing from my mind! The pain
and fear of the operation had spurred me to defend the affected limb
jealously! Digby squealed with terror as
I bashed hymn. He ran away constantly
looking over his shoulder to see if I was following. I had no strength to even think about
it. My leg felt lousy in the
extreme! Digby’s affectionate rubbing
had set up a vibration that sent the injured bones into a frenzy of
complaint! I swore viciously over and
over again as the pain persisted.
“Digby, I’ll murder you!” I yelled.
Of course I didn’t mean it, but Digby wasn’t to know that. He had been badly frightened first by Ellen,
and then by Ruby’s violent actions. He
thought that I was going to attack him, just like Ellen had attacked him. I limped off to see where Digby had
disappeared to. I found him cowering in
the corner of my field. When he saw me
Digby screamed!
“Jinja, I
didn’t mean it like that! Honest I
didn’t! Don’t hurt me, please don’t hurt
me!” The poor chap was almost on his
knees pleading with me not to harm him.
As I have already said, I had no intention to. I tried to reassure Digby of this.
“Hey
Digby, come ‘ere mate.” I coaxed. Digby was nervous, as well he might be. He stayed exactly where he was, looking
around him fearfully. I approached him
carefully showing what I hoped to be reassuring signs. Digby watched me intently as I drew nearer.
“What’re
you going to do to me?” he asked
hoarsely. I noticed that his eyes were
terrified.
“Nothing
Digby.” I replied.
“What, no
nip or kick to teach me a lesson?” Digby asked.
My look of surprise startled him.
“Why no,
of course not. Whoever do you think I
am? I’m not violent Digby. What I said might have sounded awful, but
that’s only words. People can say the
most awful things when they’re in pain.”
I replied. I STRETCHED OUT MY
NOSE TOWARDS Digby as a sign of friendship.
He rubbed back against it shyly.
“I know
you’re not malicious. You’re a decent chap
who wants to show affection. You can’t
help who you are Digby. I’m not trying
to change you when I say this, so don’t take it as criticism. But I think that you’re friendly nature will
get you into trouble one day if you don’t check it slightly. Try and think before you commit yourself to
anything. If the horse you rubbed
yourself against was Ellen, where would you be now.” I asked.
Digby replied:
“But I
wouldn’t have touched Ellen, I know what she’s like!” he complained.
“I’m just
warning you though Digby.” I said. Digby looked upset.
“But Jinja,
I can’t help who I am!” Digby protested.
“No Digby,
I didn’t mean you for one minute to stop being yourself. On the contrary. I think you’re a wonderful chap. But sometimes you’re boundless love for
everyone might get you into deep water.
That’s all I’m trying to say.” I
replied. Digby asked:
“Who should
I be careful of then Jinja?” I thought
for a minute or two. I had heard word
that I had much the same problem as Digby has.
I don’t mean to blow my trumpet when I say that. But I remember when I first met Carmen I had
rubbed my nose against hers affectionately.
She had resented it and had nearly kicked me into the next county. I warned Digby about this.
“So you’re
saying that I should not rub Carmen up the wrong way.” He said.
“Yeah,
that’s right.” I replied.
“Any
others I should be wary of?” Digby
asked.
“Well,
Cleo, perhaps Cleo might feel a little resentful of your attentions. Although, I don’t really know, she might, but
then again, well, can’t really say for sure with her.” I replied.
Suddenly someone asked,
“Did I hear
my name mentioned?” We turned to see
Cleo walking towards us. Digby suddenly
looked very guilty. He started to ask:
“How long
have you,,,”
“I wasn’t
listening in if that’s what you’re worried about. I heard my name mentioned as I was
passing. I was interested to find out
what was going on that’s all.” Cleo
replied. Digby explained as best he could. Cleo smiled as he reached the part where she
came into the story. She walked up to
Digby and nuzzled him.
“Here, have
a go.” She invited. Now that Cleo was asking for the equine
version of a hug Digby went all shy on her.
Cleo’s misguided years were over.
She had pulled out of her nosedive when Jingle had recognised that she
was not an evil horse. Jingle, Fudge and
most of the other horses had helped Cleo to talk about and come to terms with
such things as the sudden and tragic death of her mother at the hands of a
careless car driver. Cleo had even
managed to form a sort of relationship with her daughter Poppy. Cleo admitted what she had said and done in
the early months of Poppie’s life was wrong and totally unjustified. Cleo had even tried to make amends to some
extent with Domino. But Domino wasn’t
going to take it lying down. Although
Jingle had talked her into trying to be civil to Cleo, Domino was only going to
do that. She could not forgive Cleo for
anything. This had upset Cleo
greatly. She had accepted that what she
had done was wrong. But Domino seemed to
be unable to see that there was such a thing as mental illness. Cleo had been ill, Ellen was truly mad! Cleo swallowed hard. She took a breath that seemed to shake her to
her foundations. I saw that she was
trying desperately not to cry. Digby
unknowingly broke the seal on the lid holding Cleo’s emotions in check. Seeing Cleo was upset, Digby did the only
thing he knew to calm her. He rubbed his
nose against hers. Cleo buried her head
in Digby’s shoulder and sobbed into his fur.
Digby tried to comfort her.
“Hey,
come on Cleo dear. Don’t cry, it’s all
right now.” He said. Then I realised what had made Cleo break
down.
“Digby’s
the only horse that’s shown her real love!”
I thought, “He understands her totally!”
I watched them sorting themselves out.
Cleo stopped crying and they walked away from me.
I didn’t know what to think. I was pleased for both of them, who wouldn’t
be? Ellen perhaps. Well, I know this is a funny thing to say and
this is probably not the right time to say it.
But Digby and Cleo are a strange couple.
Then again I suppose the same could be said for Rosie and myself. You see, Cleo’s young and Digby’s in later
life. Isn’t that called cradle snatching
in human circles? Anyway, good luck to
them.
Rosie came into sight around the corner of the
barn. She walked towards me with
Beyancca. Those two seemed
inseparable. Beyancca shouted to me.
“Hey
Jinja! You heard the latest? Ellen’s going!” Rosie shushed her quickly!
“You
bloody fool! Ellen’s not far away,
she’ll hear you!” Rosie hissed. Beyancca might have had the temperament of an
older horse, but sometimes she lacked tact.
I looked nervously towards the box where Ellen was imprisoned. I say imprisoned because this box was unlike
any other. It had doors top and bottom
like all the other boxes, but there the similarity ended. The doors were closed and a metal grill
rather like the one over half of Crofter’s door was closed over it, like a
second door if you like. The first door
was locked before hand with two bolts on each door. These were firmly fastened to the wood both
on the door and on the brick wall. For
this prison box was designed to hold the most ferocious horses. The two doors were linked together with a
connecting bolt and then the bars were shut across the whole lot and fixed with
bolts. It sounds a horrid place and
thankfully I’ve never been in there. Any
horse that was sent to spend time in that box came out very different to when
they went in. You must understand that
it was the seclusion of this box that frightened and confused horses. Other than that life was normal, apart from
there was no work, and the horse that was in the doghouse so to speak could not
mix with the other horses while he or she was exercising in the fields. The convicted horse wasn’t even allowed to
talk to the other horses. I must add that the Manageress never put horses in
there unless they were dangerous to other horses or humans. This box inspired fear in all of us.
I looked at the bars across the door. I felt sick with fright!
“It must
be hell in there.” I said. Just then the Manageress appeared at the door
of her house and walked across to the prison
box. She unbolted the bars and then the
top door. The moment the door was opened
Ellen snapped at the Manageress! Ellen
fastened her gaze on Beyancca! Ellen
expressed views on Beyancca’s parentage, sexual preferences, breeding and
political leanings that made Rosie take a few paces backwards. Beyancca had never heard such talk! I don’t mean to say she was an angel and
never swore or said anything derogatory about anyone because that would be
lying. But Beyancca had never heard such
damaging and insulting remarks. I’m sure
she had no idea what half of them meant!
But Rosie knew full well what they meant and was appalled! Beyancca was outraged at Ellen for saying
those things that she could understand, but Rosie’s face told her that Ellen
had said far worse things in the parts of the outpouring that she couldn’t
understand. You see Beyancca’s insults
were on the most part Foalish. She was
only six after all. Ellen’s were far
more damaging because of their technical accuracy and deep nature. Ellen meant to do Beyancca real damage with
them.
Rosie was deadly pale.
She was almost in tears actually.
I strode towards Rosie and stopped beside her. From two feet away I could see that my wife
was shaking! Rosie swallowed.
“J,
Jinja, Ask one of the others to lead Beyancca away will you.” But Beyancca wasn’t going. She is a caring compassionate horse who
cannot bare to see another in distress.
Beyancca saw that Rosie was upset and wanted to help her.
“No Rosie,
I’ll be all right. I want to stay.” Beyancca said. Rosie shook her head.
“No, no
Beyancca, please do as I ask. Go with
Jinja, he’ll look after you.” Beyancca
tried once more.
“But
Rosie,,,” Rosie interrupted her,
“No
Beyancca, go!” Rosie shoved Beyancca as
she said this. This action, though not
painful for Beyancca, frightened her enough to force compliance. As we walked away Beyancca questioned me.
“Why has
Rosie told me to go? What does all this
mean Jinja?” she asked. I replied:
“I know
what it means Beyancca, but, I’m not going to tell you just yet.”
“Why
not? I have a right to know what Ellen’s
been saying about me.” Beyancca
replied. I hesitated.
“Yes,
well. There are things that you don’t
fully understand Beyancca. Those will
come with time.”
“Don’t
patronise me Jinja!” Beyancca said
crossly. I tried again.
“Beyancca, tell me truthfully, did you understand all the things that
Ellen said?” Beyancca shook her head.
“No, too
technical for me.” She replied. I could see that Beyancca wanted a simple
explanation of the terms Ellen had used against her. I thought,
“Some of
the things Ellen said were far too vicious and evil! I might damage Beyancca for life if I
explained some of them.” Beyancca was
watching me. She watched my face
intently, I’m sure she could read my thoughts.
I was hoping secretly that Beyancca would do the usual foalish thing and
forget about this in a few hours. But
somehow I knew she wouldn’t. I knew that
Beyancca would pursue the matter until she got an explanation. I felt so sorry for her. Poor Beyancca obviously thought that those
insults I wouldn’t talk about were the foalish type. But I knew they were far worse than Beyancca
could ever comprehend at this time.
The sun beat down on the yard and it’s
inhabitants. The day had turned out
warmer than could be expected for late April.
It was a perfect day for horses and humans to be with their loved
ones. Instead of that we had Ellen
kicking up a fuss, Rosie distraught and upset, Beyancca confused and furious
with me for keeping details back from her and the Manageress in the middle of
it all trying to sort out the whole rotten situation.
“I feel
sick.” Beyancca said suddenly. She buried her head in my shoulder and howled
with terror!
“What’s
Ellen gonn’a do to me Jinja?” she
sobbed.
“Ellen’s
not going to hurt you Beyancca. I’ll
make sure of that.” I promised. Beyancca stood back and shook her head.
“You can’t
beat Ellen in a fight! You tried to beat
Ruby and look what happened!” She
indicated my plaster thing.
“Ellen’s
twice the size of Ruby. You wouldn’t
stand a chance Jinj’!” Beyancca
said. I must put the record straight
here. Ellen is not twice the size of
Ruby, if she were then the Manageress wouldn’t stand a chance of keeping her
under control. All foals tend to
overestimate size. Especially when
they’re talking about something that excites or frightens them. Beyancca shook herself from nose to tail.
“Hadn’t we
better go and see what Rosie’s up to?”
She asked.
“No
Beyancca, I’ll go, you stay here.” I
replied. With that I led her to her box,
opened the door, physically pushed her inside and slammed the door, running the
bolts home top and bottom with my teeth!
I performed this quickly so Beyancca wouldn’t know what was happening
until it was too late for her to do anything about it. I didn’t want her hanging about while Rosie
and I helped the Manageress to defuse what might be an ugly situation. As I walked away I heard Beyancca yelling
after me.
“Jinja,
why have you done this? Why lock me in
my box? I’m not a foal any more!” I ignored her and let Digby and the others
sort her out. Right then I had my wife
and the Manageress to think about.
Beyancca was safe and now I had other things to worry about. My leg troubled me more than ever. The bloody plaster thing was really
restrictive and I was getting sick to the back teeth of it! The thought that I had another six weeks of
the thing did nothing to cheer me.
When I reached Rosie and the Manageress I found them
trying to get Ellen into a lorry. This
was proving to be a real problem. Ellen
plunged and bucked as the Manageress led her towards the open doors at the back
of the lorry. The Manageress had muzzled
Ellen to make quite sure that she couldn’t have another go at biting her. Short of tying Ellen’s legs together the
Manageress couldn’t do any more to make the situation safer for herself or
Rosie. Ellen was bucking higher and higher
as she became angrier and angrier! I had
an Idea suddenly.
“If I kick
Ellen on her rear end while she’s bucking she might summersault into the
lorry.” I had no sympathy for
Ellen. I took careful aim with my right fore
foot and waited for the perfect opportunity.
When it presented itself in the midst of a particularly massive buck
from Ellen I struck! Rearing up on my
hind legs I kicked Ellen with all my force!
I watched in wonder as she pitched over in a summersault actually
lifting her fore feet off the ground!
She landed on her back on the straw inside the lorry with a dull
crash! The Manageress slammed the doors
closed and rammed the bolts home quickly threading the chain that finished the
job through the loops and locking it with a very sturdy padlock, phew!
I stood shaking violently! Someone said:
“Wow,
that was really something! Pity we had
no video camera!” I spun round to see
Beyancca standing behind me!
“How the
hell did you get here?” I asked. A voice I knew well said:
“She was
kicking and yelling to be let out so I let her out.” I whirled round to face the speaker. I stared at my owner in shock!
“John!” I yelled. The poor human not comprehending my anger
said:
“What
Jinj’?” I was almost dancing with rage!
“I put her
there for a reason! Beyancca was in
danger! I can see why you did it, it’s
the human thing to let an animal out if they are screaming and yelling to be
set free. But Beyancca could have been
killed by Ellen!” I shouted. John put his arm around me and hugged me.
“I’m sorry
Jinj’.” He said.
“That’s
all right, I know why you did it. I
suppose if I was in the same situation I would have.” I replied.
Suddenly I felt very tired. I
lost control of my limbs and collapsed onto the concrete!
I seemed to be half-conscious. I could hear and feel but couldn’t see
anything! I heard the Manageress calming
John down. John was yelling something
about me dying on him. I dimly heard the
beeping of a mobile phone as the Manageress punched in the vet’s now familiar
number. She spoke briefly on the phone
before disconnecting and kneeling down to take a better look at me. The Manageress said:
“It looks
like Jinja’s suffering from acute exhaustion John.” I felt John put his arms around my neck and
hug me.
“Will he
be all right?” my owner asked. The Manageress looked at her Son wondering
what to tell him.
“Look
John, Jinja’s old, there can be problems with older horses.” I knew that was a round about way of saying
that I might not make it.
The vet arrived and took a look at me.
“Poor old
Jinja. All right, let’s get him back to
the surgery and we’ll have a look at him.”
With that I was loaded into the vet’s pickup truck and driven away
towards the vet’s place.
I felt worse than ever! All the horrors and fears of the last few
weeks grew in my mind to frightening proportions. First my brush with Ellen, then Beyancca’s fight with Ellen, Then
Ellen’s rampage through the barn and my run in with Ruby, where I broke my leg,
and then, finally, my revenge attack on Ellen.
All this grew into a horrifying catalogue of events that served to
frighten me still further! I whimpered
with fear and terror!
“It’s all
right Jinja mate!” John said. But I knew all was not well. I thought of poor Beyancca not understanding
all that was said to her, and of Rosie who was keeping it back from her for her
own protection. I finally thought of
Ellen, yes that horse that I had only an hour previously kicked into a
transporter lorry. I remembered that
once I had actually liked her! Respected
her because she was related to my wife.
Now that had crumbled into hatred and resentment and fear! The pickup swung round a corner and stopped
outside what I supposed was the vet’s place.
I was winched into the theatre and knocked out with some powerful
drug. I knew nothing more!
I awoke lying on what I thought was grass. I thought,
“I’m
dead, this is heaven, surely.” I shifted
slightly. My left leg was out of its
plaster thing.
“That’s
strange, I only broke my leg two days before the revenge attack on Ellen.” I thought.
The wind blew across the field, it was warm and smelt of freshly mown
grass.
“The
Manageress is mowing the lawn at last.”
I thought. I rolled onto my chest
and stood up. I shook myself
experimentally to see what happened, nothing unpleasant did. I looked at the sun to confirm the time of
day.
“Two or
three o’clock in the afternoon.” I
concluded. I heard the clop of a horse’s
hooves on the concrete of the road.
Looking up I saw Clover jogging along the edge of my field! I whinnied to her!
“Hey
Clover! You got a few minutes my
dear?” I asked. Clover turned her head and looked at me. She wasn’t carrying any humans, in fact I
think she was out for a stroll. I can’t
think of a better day for walking in the countryside.
Clover jumped the hedge and ran towards me.
“Hey Jinj’
how ya doing!” she welcomed. Clover’s boundless energy always lifted my
spirits to dizzy heights.
“I’m fine
now thanks Clover. Can you tell me
something?” Clover smiled,
“Yes what
do you want to know?” I grinned.
“It may
sound stupid to you. But I seem to have
lost some time. What’s today’s
date?” Clover’s smile widened.
“It’s the
twentieth of June Jinja.” She said. I thought,
“I’ve lost
six weeks somewhere. I attacked Ellen at
the middle of April. Where the hell can
six weeks go?” I put this question to
Clover.
“Ever
since you’re run in with that bloody horse, you’ve been under sedation.” I realised what the Manageress had done. She had made quite sure that I wouldn’t do
anything stupid to endanger myself while my leg was mending. Clover suddenly
lost her light manner and became very solemn.
Her eyes were more frightened than I had ever seen them!
“Hey
Clover, what’s wrong?” I asked. Clover swallowed hard and tried to keep tears
from her eyes. She sniffed,
“You see
Jinj’, I, I’m, I mean I,,,” Clover buried her head in my shoulder and burst
into tears. She suddenly blurted out!
“I’m
scared Jinj’!” I was confused, who could
Clover be scared of? Ellen had been
taken away over a month ago. Then it hit
me!
“Clover’s scared of death!” I
thought. Then I asked myself:
“How’re
you going to deal with this one Jinja?”
I had no rules for dealing with horses that were scared of death. Clover knew she had very little time to live,
the vet had told her that over three months previously. But I thought she had come to terms with
it! Clover seemed to be enjoying her
final months with us. Making the most of
the time she had left. But now I
realised that the apparent enjoyment of life was actually a way of Clover
pretending to herself that nothing had happened, that all would be fine. In short Clover had been in denial for three
or maybe four months. It was only now
that she was thinking seriously about her future, and to be quite blunt about
it, the prospects frightened her out of her wits! Clover rubbed her nose against me
fervently! She wanted comfort,
reassurance that all would be fine, love and affection. I could give her most of those things. But the one thing I couldn’t reassure her of
was whether everything would be all right after her passing! What would happen to her spirit after it had
left her Earthly form? Many people have
many differing views on the existence of the after life. Whether it does or does not exist, and if it
does, what form that new life takes. I
had read that certain religious faiths believed in re-incarnation. But that was only one belief among many
others which I have no space to detail.
I supposed that Rosie had been re-incarnated. But it had gone wrong. A person is meant to re-incarnate into
something other than their former forms.
Rosie had re-incarnated into an Irish Draft mare. Well I think that’s what she is. Clover said:
“I don’t
want the Manageress to see me dead.” I
was confused.
“Well,
she’s going to. I’m sorry to be blunt
about it, you did bring the subject up after all, but, horses usually die in
their sleep. So you’ll know nothing
about it anyway.” I replied. Clover choked on her tears. This set off a coughing fit that lasted for a
minute or so. Then Clover
recovered. She stared at me, her eyes
full of terror! She said hoarsely,
“J, Jinja,
Jinja, I, I’m going to, to drown myself!”
My shock was beyond words! My
eyes told her of my disquiet at her revelation.
“But
Clover! You can’t do that! Humans, they, they go insane if they don’t
know things for certain. If you
disappeared one day and never returned then the Manageress and all the other
horses would wonder till they’re dying day where you disappeared. They need the finality of evidence
Clover! I know why you came up with
that, and I can see your reasons for it, but it’s not a good idea. Really Clover, you don’t know how long you’ve
got left. No one knows, The vet said
three or four months but vets can be wrong or misguided sometimes. You mustn’t worry about it Clover, you’ve got
far better things to think about. Enjoy
life while you have it and think about death when it comes to you. Please Clover, don’t do it!” I pleaded.
Clover dried her eyes and looked me straight in mine.
“You’re
right Jinj’. I was being selfish,
horrible, wicked!” Clover walked away
with her nose nearly touching her hooves.
I felt awful! What was I going to
do with Clover? She had come to me for
help and had I given her it? Her resolve
was quite strong, she knew what she wanted to do. Did I do the right thing to advise her
otherwise? On balance I thought I had. I
felt I knew enough about human emotions to be able to advise her. As Clover walked away I thought of the way
she had helped me through the difficult times between Rosie’s passing and her
re-incarnation thing. Clover is gentle
and kind. Most of the horses are in the
yard I’m pleased to say.
I noticed the Manageress coming towards me. She put out her hand and stroked my neck.
“Hi Jinj’
how’re you then mate?” she asked. I stopped, what was I going to tell her? I couldn’t say “I’m fine” because that
wouldn’t be true, and humans can tell when a horse is lieing. But then again I couldn’t tell her what
Clover had told me. The poor human would
be so upset by it, and I hated seeing humans in distress. Anyway the Manageress had enough to deal with
at the moment. She was having trouble
coming to terms with the facts of Clover’s situation. That’s how I saw it anyway. Clover’s nameplate had been taken off her
door. I supposed that was how humans
came to terms with the death of a pet.
But then thirdly, I had never kept anything from the Manageress or John
in my life! I felt they had a right to
know what Clover had been planning. I
replied:
“I’m all
right in myself thanks, but Clover, she told me something earlier that I think
you’d better know. I know this will
upset you, I’m very sorry for that, more sorry than I can tell you. But I feel it would be wrong if I kept it
from you.” I walked across the field and
found a clean bale of straw. Booting it
across to where the Manageress stood I indicated that she should sit on it. I fell onto my knees and rested my head in
her lap as I re-counted what Clover had said to me. I cannot think of the words to describe the
Manageress’s state of mind when I had finished.
To say she was distraught would be an understatement! The poor human hugged me so tightly that I
thought my bones would break! She said,
“But
Jinja, Clover can’t do that!” I replied:
“That’s
what I told her.”
“Did you
manage to talk her out of it?” the
Manageress asked.
“Yes, I
think so. I hope so!” I replied.
The Manageress returned to the reason why she had come to see me.
“Jinja,
the vet told me that you should try and calm down a little. Try not to get into the kind of trouble you
have recently. Also keep your stress
levels to a minimum.” I had never heard
anything so funny in my life! I started
laughing!
“Yeah right! And how is the vet going to
stop me?” The Manageress shouted at me!
“Jinja! The vet’s not in it for
his enjoyment! He knows what he’s
talking about! The reason you collapsed
six weeks ago was because you were exhausted!
You did too much and had too many physical and mental shocks in a too
shorter period of time. Your poor body
can’t cope with all the abuse you give it Jinja. You’re getting on a bit now and you’ve got to
slow down! You can’t act like a
three-year-old any longer! You’ve got to
take notice of me and the vet Jinj’ dear, because if you don’t you’ll be in
serious trouble.” I saw what she
meant. But I couldn’t just retire to
some quiet field and live out the rest of my days in “peaceful”
surroundings. That wasn’t my way of
doing things. If I was taken out of the
main yard and put into a secluded field somewhere I would go mad and die within
a week, I was sure of that. I told the
Manageress as much.
But you
must Jinja! You’re not a youngster any more.”
Someone said:
“Look
mum, if he doesn’t want to go and retire you can’t really make him.” The Manageress turned to see John standing
behind her. He had been listening to our
conversation.
“John, Jinja’s a horse not a human! If he’s put in a field he’s put in a field
and that’s that! He can’t do anything
about it!” But John was having none of
it!
“Look mum, Jinja hates being left out of
any action or event. If he were locked
in a field all-day he’d go mad! You know
that mum!” he was pleading with the
Manageress to let me carry on the way I have always done.
“Go for it John!” I thought.
The Manageress made signs to
me that I should get up. I did so and
she rose and dusted straw off her jeans.
The Manageress and John walked away together. I went in search of Beyancca and Rosie.
I found Beyancca and Rosie
in a field by the river. They were both
stretched out in the sunshine sunning themselves. They might have been asleep because they made
no attempt to get to their feet when I approached. I saw that they were indeed both asleep. I whistled and shouted at them!
“Oi!
Rosie! Beyancca! Get up you lazy pair!” Beyancca sprang to her feet with a cry of:
“Hey!
What? Who’s shouting?” Rosie’s reaction was totally the opposite.
“Oi Jinja,,,” Then she told me to go away in no uncertain
terms. I had forgotten that Rosie hated
being disturbed while she was sunbathing.
Beyancca however had had enough of the sun and was ready for a spot of
horseplay if you will. She and I engaged
in a mock fight on the grass beside Rosie.
Rosie did not take kindly to this.
With a squeal of rage she nipped both of us on our ears and we shot away
in alarm!
“Big mumma not like what little kids
do.” I said. Beyancca collapsed with laughter.
“When Mumma not happy, nobody happy.” She added.
We turned to see Clover standing by the gate into the field looking at
the scene. I wondered how long she had
been there. Had she seen Beyancca’s and
my five minutes of madness? If the huge
smile on her face was anything to go by I supposed that she had.
“Hey Clover! Want to join us?” Beyancca asked. She obviously hadn’t made the jump to
reasoning that adult horses might not wish to play the games that the younger
ones did. But Clover opened the gate and
walked towards us.
“If it’s all the same to you, I’d rather
not get into a rough and tumble with any of you.” She said.
“What were you doing when we saw you
Clover?” Beyancca asked.
“Oh, wandering about, you know, nothing
in particular.” Clover replied. Rosie struggled to her feet and turned to
face us. She fixed us with an icy stare.
“You two are a pain in the neck!” she said.
Rosie was addressing Beyancca and myself when she said this. Clover said,
“There’s nothing wrong with a bit of fun
is there?” Rosie bared her teeth at her.
“No, nothing wrong with fun, but there’s
a place for everything, and, fighting like foals next to a sunbathing horse is
not a very good thing to do.” Clover
bore this rebuff with good grace. She
thought,
“Experience good and bad while you have
the chance and make the most of the time you’ve got. Anyway it takes all to make the world turn.”
Secretly Clover thought the Earth was turned by a giant motor. She had no recollection of where she’d got
that idea from, but from time to time she had been laughed at for looking for
the source of power for her mythical motor.
Then she hit upon the idea of solar energy. This served to sort out the mystery of the
power source. Clover often asked
herself:
“But what happened during the night? When it was dark, did the Earth stop
spinning?” These were two questions she
was unable to answer. Clover was far
away in her thoughts. She asked:
“Can anyone tell me what happens at night,
when the sun’s gone. Does the Earth stop
spinning?” Rosie tried not to laugh. She had difficulty keeping a straight
face. But Beyancca and I knew what
Clover was going through. You see Rosie
is more educated than most horses. I
have found that some people who have a better education than others sometimes
look down on to, or patronise those who have a lesser understanding of
things. Now I don’t believe for one
minute that Rosie meant to upset Clover.
But her stifled laughter served to make Clover feel small. I could see it in her eyes.
“No, forget that.” Clover said quickly.
“No Clover, don’t forget it. I’ll tell you.” I said.
I directed a:
“Don’t say anything!” look at Rosie.
I then explained about
gravity and how the moon and the Earth worked together with the sun to make the
whole system work properly.
“You can think of it as a motor if you
like Clover. There’s nothing wrong with
that.” I said. Then I admitted that I had not known about
gravity for twenty-five years. This
revelation shocked Rosie.
“You what Jinja? You had no idea that the Earth and the moon
were linked in their operation?” The
terms Rosie used baffled Beyancca to the point where she switched off. Clover hugged me.
“Let’s go to the seaside.” She suggested. I thought for a bit.
“There is a village with a beach not far
from the yard. We might be able to get
there.” We turned to go back down the
track to the yard and saw John coming up the track towards us. I realised then that I had grass in my mane
from the rough and tumble game. I shook
my head to get rid of it. John came
close and put his arms around my neck.
He rested his cheek against mine.
I rubbed back against him gently.
It was suddenly brought home to me how close I was to losing John. Or should I say how close he was to losing
me. I reflected on the past ten weeks
and wondered how the hell I managed to survive all the beatings; thumping and
mental torment dished out by the likes of Ellen and Ruby. John stroked my ears and ran a finger down my
nose. That tickled and I let him know
it! I thumped him hard with my nose.
“Tickle did it Jinj’?” John asked.
“That’s a bloody silly question
John.” I replied. John and I remained like that for a good five
minutes or more. You see John and I are
so much in tune with each other, that when he suggested we go back to the yard,
he had no need to put a head collar on me and lead me. We walked back to the yard with Rosie, Clover
and Beyancca following us.
Beyancca remembered
something.
“How did you get rid of Ellen Jinj’?” I told her about the waiting game I had
played.
“Oh right, ah, yes I see what you
mean.” Beyancca replied. Rosie was looking at me with severity.
“Jinja, why did you even think of
challenging Ellen?” She laid her ears
right back! Rosie was furious!
“You and the Manageress were getting
nowhere with her!” I protested. Rosie shouted at close range,
“Well the Manageress would have given her
a tranquilliser in the end you bloody fool!”
Clover lost her temper!
“Look Rosie, just shut it, right!” Rosie was so angry that she squared up to
Clover and was ready to fight her!
Clover backed down.
“Wimp! Wimp! Wimp!” Rosie taunted. I had never seen my wife act in such an
unkind way to anybody before, well, without a very good reason for it. To say I was shocked would be putting it
mildly!
“Rosie, why are you acting like
this? What’s your problem?” I asked.
Rosie gave me a sour look.
“I’ve not got the problem, you have
Jinja.” She replied. I ignored her.
“Rosie I love you dearly but you can be
a bloody ass sometimes.” I thought. Then I rethought that.
“Hang on an Ass is a type of
Donkey. How can Rosie be an Ass when
she’s quite clearly a horse?” Then the
thought,
“Oh no the typist has written that
down!” also intruded.
We walked to the barn where
Fleur, Misty, Digby, Beyancca and Candy lived.
Digby greeted me with his usual good nature.
“Hi Jinja!” I held up a hoof to stop him going any
further. Digby could bruise a horse with
his nose if he wasn’t careful with it.
Misty asked:
“What happened to you this time then
Jinja?” I told her about my accident. Candy said:
“I saw you lock Beyancca in her box
Jinja. Wasn’t that a little harsh of
you?” I replied:
“Beyancca would have been in danger if I
hadn’t done that.” Beyancca countered
with:
“I nearly missed the whole show!” Evidently Beyancca had no concept of danger
when it came to dealing with other horses.
That’s a typical foalish
response. I then realised that I hadn’t
spoken to Fudge, Jingle, Cleo or Carmen for a long time. I sped off to put in an appearance. I shot round two corners, nearly decapitating
Domino on my way past the riding school.
She was coming out at the time and had to retreat quickly when I came
streaking through like an express train!
She yelled:
“Hey Jinja! You.,,,”
I didn’t hear any more because I was travelling too quickly. I jammed my right fore foot into the concrete
as I reached the right hand turn into the driving yard, skidded around that and
nearly hit the wall at the end of the yard.
Fudge stopped me.
“And what the hell do you think you’re
doing coming in here at that ridiculous speed?”
she asked pleasantly.
“Thought I’d pay you a visit.” I replied.
“ATT forty miles an hour?” Carmen asked.
“No, I’d stay around.” I said.
“What?
Around thirty you mean Jinj?”
Jingle asked.
“You’re a fine one to talk Jingle! I think you’ve been referred to as “Flying
Jingle” haven’t you?” I replied. Jingle smiled at me. I stayed in the driving yard chatting to the
occupants. It seemed that Cleo was
getting on well with Digby, that Fudge who had recently made her right eye and
side of her face sore by rubbing an irritated spot on a wooden post once too
often was on the mend, and that Carmen was as nervous as ever, no change there
then. Domino tapped me on the shoulder
with her nose.
“Jinja, what were you thinking of when
you came streaking past me! I mean you
didn’t look to see if there was anyone coming out of the riding school did you! I could have been killed! Be careful next time Jinja!” I noticed that there was no mention of my pet
name in Domino’s rebuke. By pet name I
mean “Jinj’.” Domino strode away with
her ears laid back. Dominic thumped me,
“Don’t worry about mum, she’s
overdramatic about everything.” He
whispered. Domino yelled:
“I heard that Dominic!” Dominic’s response had me laughing so much
that I had to lean against Jingle’s shoulder for support! He said sarcastically,
“Oh yeah, how nice for you.” Domino came bulldozing through the yard
knocking me flying! Fudge yelled:
“Be careful Domino, Jinja’s,,,” She screamed as I hit the wall! Jingle had also faired badly. I had been leaning on her shoulder. When Domino had come charging through she had
knocked Jingle off her feet and now she was lying on the straw with the wind
knocked out of her. Domino’s intended
target had not received a scratch.
Dominic stared at the devastation with horror! What he said was
unprintable! But was something like:
“Oh dear!
What have I started!” Domino
stamped about, on me, tripped over Jingle, and kicked Cleo in her attempt to
leave the scene of battle. I lay on the
concrete uncertain whether I was going to live or die. Fudge pleaded:
“Don’t give up Jinja!” I moaned with pain! Jingle picked herself up off the straw and
came towards me.
“Don’t touch me Jingle!” I pleaded.
Jingle’s eyes were full of tears.
“But Jinja, you’re bleeding mate!” she said.
“Get the
Manageress Jingle!” I implored. Jingle ran off on her errand while I slipped
further and further,,,.
I heard a voice calling me.
“Jinja,
Jinja.” It said. I seemed to be floating towards it. Then I blacked out for a while and floated
into a world of strange things.
I could see a field of corn.
“I don’t
eat corn, I hate the stuff.” I
thought. Then I saw a stream, the water
seemed clear and invited me to drink. I
was thirsty and put my mouth down to it.
But the water tasted salty! I
spat out the offending liquid and went in search of other thirst quenching
things. I found a fruit tree and found
also that I could reach the fruit. I
reached up and plucked one of the nameless fruit from the branch above my
head. This tasted wonderful! But when I tried to take another fruit, the
fruit kept swinging out of reach. It was
as if whoever or whatever it was was telling me that I couldn’t have any more.
“All
right, have it your way.” I
thought. I went in search of other
horses. I found one other horse. His name was Pippin. Pippin told me that he had been owned by a
little boy who had been a wonderful master.
But one day Pippin fell ill and died.
“I’ve been
here ever since.” Pippin said. Then he said something very strange indeed.
“I believe
you’ve got a friend called Rosie?” I
jumped!
“You
what?” I asked.
“Yes, I
remember now, Rosie said she sorely missed someone called Jinja. I asked her who this Jinja person was. Rosie described you. That was how I recognised you. But Rosie’s gone back to Earth.” I thought,
“I must
be in heaven or something like it.” I
daren’t ask. Pippin and I began to chat
about our lives. He told me that he had
lived in Norfolk near Norwich. I
countered with Suffolk near Wickham Market.
Pippin told me that his master had been called Joey. I told him that my owner was called
John. And so it went on. We swapped information in that fashion for a
good two hours or so I guessed.
I was suddenly plunged into utter blackness! I could hear Pippin shouting to me!
“Jinja! Jinja mate, come
back!” I crashed down hard on a metal
table, somewhere. I thought:
“I want to
see Pippin again!” Someone said,
“Jinja’s
going to be all right.” I thought,
“Surely they
can’t be talking about me.” I felt a
human hand stroking my shoulder. It felt
good! Very good! I raised my head and looked the human in the
eye.
“And what
can I do for you?” I asked. I thought,
“That’s
funny, I seem to remember someone like that.”
Then someone else said:
“He’s back
with us for sure now John.” I asked
myself:
“John? John? Who’s John?”
I stopped!
“John, my
owner! I must be on Earth then!” I thought.
I wondered what had happened.
Then with a sickening lurch I remembered all! Fudge’s scream still echoed in my ears! I thought,
“Oh
Jinja, you’ve really copped it this time.”
The human that I thought was John my owner was back. He was stroking me, but he was stroking my nose this
time. I tried shifting slightly and was
gently restrained by John.
“Hey Jinj’,
hey, calm down, don’t move mate.” He
said gently. I felt suddenly tearful,
very tearful in fact. I sobbed.
“I want
to go home.” John said:
“You’ll
be home as soon as possible Jinj’.” I
let myself relax.
“What was
the point of fighting.” I thought. I slept, well, I must have done because I
remembered nothing of the journey back to the yard. I woke in my old field, I was lying on clean
straw and the sun was shining. I
stretched out on the bales feeling better than I had for months.
“No more
fast lane.” I thought. But three seconds later I rethought that.
“No, back
to the day job!” I thought. I sprang off the straw and ran out of the field. I was stopped by Clover.
“Who? What? Jinja?
Is that you Jinj’?” she asked.
“Well,
yeah, who else would it be, King Kong?”
I replied. Clover started
nuzzling me feverishly. Then Rosie and
Beyancca saw me and got in on the act.
So I was pushed, prodded, shoved and jostled by three horses at once,
great experience, not! All right, one,
or maybe two horses, but not three! A
thing that was meant to be a pleasurable experience turned into a
nightmare! I tried telling them that but
Rosie, Beyancca and Clover didn’t listen.
In the end they stopped their antics and I was allowed to go free. My immediate concern was for Fudge, Jingle
and Cleo. I ran towards their
street! I arrived at a run to find them
peacefully eating straw.
“Jinja!” Jingle whinnied. She hugged me so tightly it hurt! Then it was the turn of Fudge and Cleo to
give me the crushing treatment. I
desperately wanted life to return to its normal steady rhythm. I didn’t like all this drama. I know it goes on in life but I like a quiet
existence now and again. But give me a
situation and I’ll be in at the sharp end before you can say knife.
I got my wish of a peaceful life. The events of the past twelve weeks had told
me many things. About friendship,
hatred, fear and death. It had also
taught me to love people every minute of every day and to respect them. I can’t put into words all that I’ve
learnt. I haven’t told Rosie about
Pippin yet. I don’t know if I ever
shall. I think it would frighten her too
much.
Domino got a warning from the Manageress about her
behaviour and a yelling at from John and the Manageress for putting me in the
vet’s place for a third time. I think
I’ll stop there. I’ve said enough I
think.
Oh, yeah, P.S!
That prison box mentioned earlier. I made that up. It’s fiction all right! I would like to plead with the Manageress not to haul me through the
courts over this! Who’s ever sued a
horse?
Jinja
I, MARTIN WILSHER, here by assert and give notice of my right under section
77 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the
author of the foregoing article.
© Copyright Martin Wilsher 1998-2000
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